Drop leaf dining table



Jan. 10, 1956 B. 1... WILLIAMS DROP LEAF DINING TABLE Filed Jan. 26, 1954 Billy L. Williams INVENTOR.

BY nan Wow 3m Unite 2,730,416 nnor LEAF DINING TABLE Billy L. Williams, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application January 26, 1954, Serial N 0. 406,232

g 4 Claims. (Cl. 311-60) This invention relates to a drop leaf dining table and more specifically provides a novel and simplified table for utilization where it is desired to have a drop leaf table.

An object of this invention is to provide a drop leaf dining table rotatably supported on a plurality of V-shaped legs wherein the V-shaped legs form a supporting area for selective engagement with the under surface of the drop leaves thereby selectively retaining said drop leaves in horizontal position.

. WlllbCCOIXlC subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the drop leaf dining table of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the present invention with the drop leaves in horizontal or extended position;

, Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to Figure 2 showing thedrop leaves in vertical or collapsed position;

Figure 4 isa side elevational view showing the construction of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a detailed vertical section taken substantially along section line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing the connection between the supporting legs and the table top and the connection between the Lazy Susan and the table top.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the drop leaf dining table of the present invention having a table top 12 which is generally circular in shape and having a pair of drop leaves 14 secured thereto by suitable hinges 16. The drop leaves 14 form segments of the circular table top 12 formed by a pair of parallel chords extending across the upper surface of the table top 12 in spaced relation. The outer circumference of the table top 12 is circular when the drop leaves 14 are in their horizontal or extended position as shown substantially in Figure 1. Secured centrally of the table top 12 in vertical spaced relation thereto is a circular member 18 forming a central support for suitable articles on the table top 12.

A circular plate 20 having an aperture 22 therein is provided with four radially extending V-shaped legs 24- having one end rigidly secured to opposing sides of the 'plate 20 by suitable welding 26. The legs 24 are dia- States Patent 0 metrically opposed and two of the legs 24 are positioned adjacent each other and the other two legs are also positioned adjacent each other thereby forming a support area substantially equal to the central portion of the table top 12 which is defined by the juncture with the drop leaves 14. The V-shaped legs 24 terminate in free ends 28 which are spaced from and vertically spaced above the plate 25 thereby engaging the undersurface of the table top 12.

A socket 310 having an outwardly projecting flange 32 is secured to the undersurface of the table top 12 by suitable fasteners such as bolts 34 and received therein suitable thrust ball-bearings 36 engaging a vertical pivot pin 38 having a headed upper end 40 and a threaded lower end 42. The pivot pin 38 extends through the aperture 22 in the plate 20 and the threaded portion 42 receives a nut 44 for retaining the thrust bearings 36 and the socket 3i) in assemble relation to the plate 20. A friction washer 46 is positioned between the lower bearing 36 and the upper surface of the plate 20 thereby resisting movement of the inner race of the bearings 36. It will be seen that the thrust-bearings 36 provide adequate rotatable support for the table top 12 in relation to the plate 2%. A vertical socket 48 having a flange 5i thereon is secured to the upper surface of the table top 12 by the fastening members 34 and a pin 5% having an outwardly projection flange 60 thereon is journaled in the socket 48 and the flange 60 is secured to the undersurface of the circular member 18 by suitable fastening screws 62 thereby removably and rotatably supporting the circular member 18 in vertically spaced relation to the upper surface to the table top 12. Obviously, the circular member 18 may be omitted if desired thereby providing a completely smooth upper surface on the table top 12.

The table 10 is assembled in the usual manner with the legs 24 secured to the plate 20 by suitable Welding 26 and the sockets 36 secured to the pivot pin 38 by the oppositely disposed ball thrust bearings 36 wherein the table top 12 is detachably connected to the supporting plate 2% in an obvious manner. The circular member 18 is rotatably journaled in the socket 48 and is removable therefrom as desired. It will be seen that the outer ends or free ends of the legs 24 indicated by the numerals 28 form supporting points that are placed substantially at the corners of a rectangular area of support. This rectangular area of support is substantially equal to the area of the central portion of the table top 12. With the table top 12 arranged in the position as shown in Figure 2, the supporting ends 28 of the legs 24 engage the under surface of the drop leaves 14 adjacent their outer surfaces thereby retaining the upper surface of the table top 12 in substantially planar relation. By rotating the table top 12 about the axis of the pivot pin 38,, the free ends of the legs 24 engage only the undersurface of the central portion of the table top 12 thereby permitting the drop leaves 14 to pivot downwardly about hinge member 16 to a vertical or collapsed position substantop 12. Further, it will be seen that the engagement of the under surface of the table top 12 with the free endsv 28 of the legs 24 prevent accidental rotation of the table top 12 which would permit the collapsing of the drop leaves 14. The table top 12 may be constructed of any readily obtainable wood or similar material generally utilized in table tops and the legs 24 may be of conventional chrome or stainless steel construction or if desired the legs 24 may be constructed of wrought iron. Ob-

viously, the particular shape of the table top 12 may be selective inasmuch as the device of this invention would be operable with a rectangular or polygonal table. The particular-"arrangement of the legs 24 permits persons to be seated at the table with a minimum of interference 7 from the table legs 24.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further e2;- planatio'n is believed'to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and Changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A drop leaf table comprising a plurality of supporting legs, a plate connecting said legs together, each of said legs being generally V-shaped having a free end spaced radially from and vertically spaced above said plate, a table top having a central portion rotatably positioned on said plate, and a pair of drop leaves pivotally securedto the central portion of said table top, said free ends of said legs supporting the drop leaves in a horizontal position when the central portion of the table top is disposed transversely of said legs and supporting said central portion when the legs and central portion are substantially parallel thereby permitting said drop leaves to pivot downwardly to a vertical position.

2. A drop leat table comprising a plurality of. supporting legs, a plate connecting said legs together, each of said legs being generally V-shaped having a free end spaced radially from and vertically spaced above said plate, a table top having a central portion rotatably positioned on said plate, and a pair of drop leaves pivotally secured to the central portion of said table top, said free ends of said legs supporting the drop leaves in a horizontal position when the central portion of the table top is disposed transversely of said legs and supporting said central portion when the legs and central portion are substantially parallel thereby permitting said drop leaves to pivot downwardly to a vertical position, said table top being circular and said drop leaves are segments of the table top formed by parallel chords, said drop leaves being connected by an elongated hinge.

3. A drop leaf table comprising a plurality of supporting legs, a plate connecting said legs together, each of said legs being generally V-shaped having a free end spaced radially from and vertically spaced above said plate, a table top having a central portion rotatably positinned ons'aid'plate, and a pair of drop leaves pivotally secured to the central portion of said table top, said free ends of said legs supporting the drop leaves in a horizontal position when the central portion of the table top is disposed transversely of said legs and supporting said central portion when the legs and central portion are substantially parallel thereby permitting said drop leaves to pivot downwardly to a vertical position, said plate being provided with an aperture for removably receiving a vertical pivot pin, said table top being provided with anti-friction bearings surrounding said pin for rotatably supporting said table top.

4. A drop leaf table comprising a plurality of radially disposed V-shaped legs, a central plate rigidly interconnecting the upper and inner free ends of said legs, the outer free ends of said legs terminating above the central plate and forming the corners of a rectangular support area, a table top having a central portion rotatably mounted on said plate and spaced vertically therefrom, a pair of drop leaf members pivotally mounted on said central portion of the table top, said central portion generally conforming to the size and shape of the support area thereby permitting the drop leaf members to depend from the central portion of the table top, said outer free ends of the legs forming a support for the drop leaf members when the central portion is disposed transversely of the support area formed by said legs thereby maintaining the central portion and the drop leaf members in coplanar relation thereby forming a flat table top.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,545 Tilton Apr. 5, 1870 317,141 Johnston May 5, 1885 340,921 Newton Apr. 27, 1886 401,820 Dahlstrom Apr. 23, 1889 688,753 Storrs Dec. 10, 1901 1,885,635 Schweitzer Nov. 1, 1932 2,494,242 Hardy Jan. 10, 1950 2,546,803 Walden, Sr Mar. 27, 1951 2,589,719 McKinney Mar. 18, 1952 2,591,215 Theiel Apr. 1, 1952 2,643,924 Albano June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 615,220 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1949 

